Don Rickert Musical Instruments

Is it a Tailpiece or a Chin Rest? How About BOTH!

The Tailpiece-Chin Rest Combination from Dov Schmidt Dov Schmidt, himself a violinist and conductor, is also one of the most innovative suppliers and inventor of ground-breaking bowed string instrument accessories such as chin rests and tailpieces (http://www.dov-music.com/). We have begun using Dov Schmidt Harp-style tailpieces on a number of Don Rickert Lutherie instruments. These tailpieces achieve astounding d’ and g string response by increasing the length between the string and the tailpiece on the lower... Read more →

Banjo in Irish Traditional Music: Part 2 UPDATE (The Tenor Banjo)

Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. The Mythology of the "Irish Tenor Banjo: According to none other than the acknowledged expert on Irish Banjo, Dr. Mick Maloney ( see The Banjo: A Short History by Mick Maloney), in the 15 or 20 years prior to the introduction of the Tenor Banjo, many banjo players, including Irish players, used either a 5-string banjo with the 5th string removed or its commercialized form, the Plectrum Banjo.... Read more →

The Most State-of-the-Art Banjo in the World (in the 1870s)

Please visit the Don Rickert Musician Shop. In the 19th Century, all three of the banjo types listed below were being played, but the tackhead banjo became more popular than the gourd banjo. The tackhead was probably the most popular among Civil War soldiers; therefore a favorite of re-enactors. Tackhead banjos could made in camp and were light in weight. The more state-of-the-art Minstrel Banjo, introduced in the early 1800s, had tensioning hardware (i.e. brackets)... Read more →

TV Coverage of Musical Instruments by Don Rickert Design Update

Several weeks ago we submitted posts on two California-based cable providers (SureWest and KAXT-1.8) showing a video on the Cigar Box Fiddle Authentic 1860s Style from Don Rickert Design Lutherie. In the video,Troy Parker is doing the playing, accompanied by Michael Fox on diatonic banjo, which is kind of a cross between a banjo and dulcimer (marketed as a Dulcijo). Troy is a very well-respected authority on and performer of mid-19th Century fiddling. Troy is... Read more →

More TV Coverage of Don Rickert Design

Another California-based cable channel has picked up the video on the Cigar Box Fiddle Authentic 1860s Style from Don Rickert Design Lutherie. Further, the first channel SureWest, has expanded its calendar of showings. For those who missed our last post, Troy Parker is doing the playing, accompanied by Michael Fox on diatonic banjo, which is kind of a cross between a banjo and dulcimer (marketed as a Dulcijo). Troy is a very well-respected authority on... Read more →

Red Hots Bonus Video and Essential Question; Curious?

Do You Really Need the Most Interesting Music Store in the Universe? I am referring to the Adventurous Muse Online Store, and the answer is... No! Buyer behavior kind of tells the whole story and the message is crystal clear. I assure you that the Adventurous Muse and our several online stores (AdventurousMuse.com, Adventurous Muse by Don Rickert Design Storefront on Amazon.com and RickertMusical.Etsy.com) are NOT needed right now. We will stay open for business,... Read more →

You Asked for More Red Hots. We've Got Your Red Hots Right Here!

We have been inundated with emails asking when we were going to post another video of the Red Hots performance at the Hoppin' John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers Convention. These request have come from as far away as Australia. I have already reiterated several times my love of this great band. This video is a portion of The Red Hots performance of "Leather Britches", originally called "Britches Full o' Stitches" in Ireland. Supposedly the name... Read more →

Video of The Wompers and The Red Hots

Yeah, I know, we promised video last night...running a bit behind as usual. Posting video of The Wompers winning performance in the band finals (Non-Traditional Category) at Hoppin' John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers' Convention 2009 and some more video of the Red Hots tonight. We have been getting requests from as far away as Australia for MORE RED HOTS video...message received and crystal clear! P.S. It would be really good if we sold some stuff... Read more →

Carolina Catbirds in Old-Time Finals at Hoppin' John 2009

This is the first of many videos to come. It is the Carolina Catbirds in the Old-Time competition finals at the Hoppin' John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers Convention 2009. Video recorded (without a tripod...sorry about the shakiness) by Don Rickert of Don Rickert Design and Adventurous Muse. The Carolina Catbirds are playing Green River March and Sally Anne. They are: Shay Garriock: Fiddle Brett Briggs: Banjo Pam Briggs: Guitar Mandolin: Gail Gillespie Bass: Dwight Rogers Read more →

The Red Hots: First of Many Hoppin' John Fiddlers' Convention Reports

Who are these Red Hots, the top-billed professional performers at the Hoppin' John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fidders' Convention 2009? This quartet that looks as if they are from at least three different bands played in the square and contra dance tent after the official square/contra dance, for which the band for that was the cleverly-named Chrystal Methodists played. We have some video of them (pretty good band) to share in the coming days, but not... Read more →